Oh, thanks for your feedback! I know you can also go there on a self-drive trip. I’d be really interested in Tanzania, since I’ve never been and, like many, I dream of the wildebeest migration. Kenya also appeals to me if you’ve had incredible safari moments yourself—especially if you’ve been lucky (and maybe experienced) enough to spot animals without being packed in with 50 vehicles around one poor creature...
I’d love to hear about everything: campsites, local guides if needed, and vehicle rental agencies. Thanks a million in advance for sharing!
In five weeks, we did a self-drive trip through Kenya and then Tanzania.
Personally, I have fonder memories of Kenya: friendlier interactions with locals, more reasonable prices, and incredibly varied landscapes.
We rented a Dacia 2WD, which worked fine in the dry season, even though a 4x4 is required for the Masai Mara...
We booked a nice, affordable apartment through Airbnb in Nairobi for three days. From there, we picked up our vehicle and reserved hotels for the next three nights.
Nairobi is a city with plenty of interest—don’t miss the African art gallery by Jane Goodall...
Next, we visited the Fourteen Falls. A nice first stop.
After that, Meru National Park blew us away—it’s a stunning African park where we saw elephants, oryx, kudus, zebras, giraffes, eagles, vultures...
Samburu National Park is gorgeous: cheetahs, lions, elephants, impalas, ostriches...
Between parks, we stopped at local markets to stock up. The welcome was warm, and prices weren’t inflated for us tourists.
My absolute favorite was Lake Nakuru National Park. The atmosphere is so unique, especially the light at 7 AM, and the flooded area (impalas, rhinos, marabous, pelicans...) was magical.
There’s a great campsite nearby, right by Lake Naivasha—cheap and perfect.
Aberdare National Park was less exciting: dense vegetation made wildlife hard to spot. The campsite was overpriced and barely adequate. A total rip-off.
Tsavo West National Park is stunning with its red sand.
Same for Amboseli, where you can see jackals, lions, elephants, hyenas, and Maasai herding their livestock.
The Masai Mara was a letdown: too crowded, expensive, and impossible to witness the wildebeest migration on a self-drive trip without a guide.
We spent the night outside the park, a few kilometers away, in lovely bungalows for less than 70 € per couple.
That’s Kenya for you!
If you’re interested, I can share our Tanzania experience too.
If you have Messenger, you can reach me at jijic Hn. It’ll be easier.
If I understand correctly, did you visit all the parks with your Dacia, or did you take guided tours once you arrived in the parks?
Best regards,
Muriel
Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m'enrichis (Saint Exupéry)
Wow, thanks for this super informative feedback! I’d never really considered doing all these parks on a self-drive trip, even though I covered 10,000 km in a Bushlore 4x4 in Southern Africa three years ago... Thanks for the details—I’ll definitely dive into them when the project comes back around! Hoping it won’t be too long...😄
Hi there, I’m a total newbie to Africa, and my dream is to just sit in a corner of the savanna and soak up the wildlife. From what I’ve seen, you all know this continent well—so is there still a country where this dream is even possible, or are the only options now those herd-like 4x4 safaris offered to tourists to see the animals? Thanks!
I recommend Tanzania, not the "classic" northern parks or the (slightly less classic) southern parks, but something much more secret:
- For the north, the parks of Arusha NP, so close to everything yet overlooked by everyone, Mkomazi NP—Tanzania’s Tsavo with wild dogs and rhinos (semi-captive), and Rubondo NP on Lake Victoria...
- For the south, Katavi NP, "the best-kept secret of African safaris," Mahale NP, a paradise for chimpanzees and swimming in Lake Tanganyika, and Kitulo NP, the "Serengeti of flowers," if the season’s right, or Udzungwa NP.
You won’t be bothered by 4x4s—either because there are very few (we spent entire days in Katavi without seeing any) or none at all (Rubondo), or because safaris are only on foot (Kitulo, Mahale, Udzungwa).
Finally, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could try the experience of the 5 (the 6th, Nyerere NP, is a good chunk of the already-known Selous) Game Reserves promoted to national parks in July 2019 and go search for shoebills in Kigosi NP, Ugalla NP, etc.
In Tanzania, I also suggest Ruaha National Park for its wildlife and atmosphere. I had the pleasure of spending a week in this less-visited southern park, where it's very easy to find solitude as long as you have the right location and guides who align with your plans. The same goes for Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania. In Kenya, Tsavo and Samburu are also great spots that fit your criteria. But in my opinion, Southern Africa—especially Namibia and Botswana—takes the crown.
Thanks so much for this info—Botswana and Namibia do seem a bit more preserved from mass tourism. Since we’re used to traveling independently, is it possible to rent a vehicle and manage on our own, or is a guide essential, especially for accessing the parks?
Best,
Used to traveling independently, is it possible to rent a vehicle and manage on our own, or is a guide essential, especially for accessing the parks?
Best regards
I think the "average tourist" means someone without much field experience. In that case, many of us here have struggled with a self-drive trip without any special skills.
Yes! You can travel solo and rent a car (4x4 with a roof tent) for a trip to the wildlife parks in Namibia and Botswana. Some parks in Botswana are indeed very busy—I’m thinking of Chobe—while others, like KTP, are less so. In Namibia, vast areas are almost desert-like, but animals are rarer there. Spotting them isn’t easy.
Etosha NP is worth the trip, but it’s popular. If the campsites are pricey in the evening, the crowds thin out during the day, giving you a bit more space.
RJuly95’s advice is worth following. Many posts here will help you plan the trip of your dreams.
Perfect, thanks a million! Unfortunately, with the current situation, Tanzania is gradually becoming less feasible (if only for financial reasons), but I’ll still take a look at your article... thanks, and looking forward to reading more from you!
Well, actually, there are tons of places where this dream is possible—loads of countries, loads of situations. We're really far from those crowds of 4x4s everywhere, all the time.
And even some of the most visited parks can be explored almost alone by traveling in the off-season, getting up super early in the morning, and continuing the safari until closing time.
In short, you can be alone almost anywhere if that’s what you want.
I don’t know all the countries or all the sites, so I can’t give specific advice. But in Rwanda, I’d point to Akagera National Park, which is barely visited (35,000 tourists a year for 1,000 km², so it’s easy to be all alone—I only do self-drive there, and it’s not a challenge).
Kidepo in Uganda, where there’s almost no one, the infrastructure is basic but nice, and there are stunning savanna landscapes.
Tarangire, Lake Manyara if you go early and move away from the main entrance toward the cliffs...
Even sites outside parks where you can see tons of animals in total peace. For example, in Maasai land in Tanzania. Or in the fringes of Queen Elizabeth or the wildlife corridor in Uganda...
But obviously, if you *really* want to see the wildebeest migration, especially a river crossing like on TV, or if you go to Nyiragongo, etc.—basically, if you head to the most famous sites in peak season—you’ll probably run into crowds.
Kidepo mainly suffers from its remoteness and the fact that it’s completely off the beaten path compared to the places tourists visit in Uganda.
When most travelers are exploring the western part of the country, a detour to the northeast eats into their trip time, and many have limited days, which is why Kidepo gets "skipped."
It's true that Kidepo is remote, but on top of that, there are few animals there.
They were heavily poached during the years of war in South Sudan and the rebellion in that part of Uganda.
And the cherry on top, if I may say so, the rainy season doesn’t happen at the same time as in the rest of the country.
But the savanna there is so beautiful... 😎
Actually, the entire northeastern part of Uganda is stunning and deserves a trip all on its own. 😛
It’s indeed hard not to be captivated by the Masai Mara and its impeccable setup.
I’m also a seasoned traveler, which is why after 4 safaris with Tony Crocetta—in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020—I feel compelled to share my thoughts.
I have wonderful memories of the camp, the safari, the guides, the meals, and the warmth of Sylvie and Tony.
After a serious health issue with my partner, they did everything possible to arrange a repatriation, providing full assistance, professionalism, and kindness.
Claire’s rant might just reflect someone who’s very demanding and should probably opt for 5-star hotels instead of the great outdoors.
It’s so easy to criticize without even acknowledging the positives.
For my part, I can only recommend this little slice of paradise—I’ve already booked my fifth safari for October 2021 with Sylvie and Tony Crocetta.
Excellent follow-up response to everything we’ve mentioned about Tony CROCETTA’s setup, the quality of the services, and the appeal of the safaris offered. For those who don’t want to run into any photographers or other visitors in the parks, you can also check out the amazing shows on TV!
It’s indeed hard not to be captivated by the Masai Mara and its impeccable setup.
I’m also a seasoned traveler, which is why after 4 safaris with Tony Crocetta in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020, I feel compelled to share my thoughts.
I have wonderful memories of the camp, the safari, the guides, the meals, and the warmth of Sylvie and Tony.
After a serious health issue with my partner, they did everything possible to arrange a repatriation with full assistance, professionalism, and kindness.
Claire’s rant might just reflect someone with very high expectations who should probably opt for 5-star hotels instead of the great outdoors.
It’s so easy to criticize without even acknowledging the positives.
For my part, I can only recommend this little slice of paradise—I’ve already booked my fifth safari for October 2021 with Sylvie and Tony Crocetta.
Food for thought…
Marie-Jo
Hello Trisconi,
I think you didn’t read my very first message carefully: this is MY point of view. As a seasoned traveler, especially used to traveling in Africa, it seemed natural to come here and offer a different perspective on this camp, which so far has only been described in ULTRA-positive terms. Maybe I just wasn’t lucky, but in any case, it seems to me that in a democracy, everyone has the right to share their opinion (isn’t that what a "forum" is for?). Besides, you didn’t read my first message carefully either, because I also mentioned the positive aspects of my experience. I invite you to revisit the discussion thread or maybe give your ophthalmologist a call.
Food for thought...
Besides, Rotsaka is absolutely right—you can't please everyone, quite the opposite. The main idea is still the exchange between passionate travelers, and I find it regrettable that some take it so much to heart (maybe they have shares in Melting Pot Safari?).
Joking aside, Africa is far too beautiful to dwell on little squabbles like this...
It seemed pretty obvious, though. This viewpoint, along with the ones that followed (which were rather opposed, let's be honest), helps form a well-informed opinion about the service.
Besides, you didn’t actually read my first message properly
That’s possible.
But you should be glad to have the opinion of someone who, despite 4 stays there (we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt), never bothered to share a single contribution 😛
I think now that everything has been said, it would be much more positive to reflect on the future of the Camp while COVID-19 is wreaking havoc in KENYA and all employees are unemployed.
Four photos in memory and gratitude to three driver-guides, Edward, David, and Ruto (the first guide to have worked with Tony...) and to the chef who treated us to amazing meals throughout our safaris...
Food for thought.
But you should be glad to have the opinion of someone who, despite 4 trips there (we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt), never bothered to share a single contribution 😛
fair enough
@Spiderweb: of course, that’s not the point of the discussion, but obviously the Covid-19 crisis is hitting everyone hard, especially the tourism sector (being in it myself, I know what I’m talking about...). Africa’s economy is also heavily supported by tourism, and I’m really thinking of all those who are deeply affected right now, hoping things get back on track as soon as possible so we can visit them in that magical setting and contribute to their economy!
Replying to my point with "that's not what this discussion is about..." just shows you really didn’t understand anything. I SAID EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID... Reply again?
Good luck with all your future trips...
Warm thoughts to all those working in the Masai Mara.
Replying to my point with "that's not what this discussion is about..." just shows you really didn't understand anything. I SAID IT ALL... Replying again?
Good luck with all your future trips...
A heartfelt thought to all those working in the Masai Mara.
There's no point in arguing in such a dismissive tone, and I stand by it—no, this thread isn't meant to discuss travel during this pandemic crisis. That said, it would be both useful and interesting to talk about it...
My wife and I, along with three other people, went on a safari from Melting Pot Safari’s catalog in 2017 (including Samburu, Lake Baringo, and the Masai Mara), and we really enjoyed the whole experience (as far as I know, the other three people did too).
We’re also passionate about wildlife in Africa (and photography). Our first safari in Kenya dates back to... 40 years ago with Nouvelles Frontières. That said, I don’t know *everything*.
Except for one thing: We’re ALL different when it comes to travel and safaris in particular. Our expectations and tastes vary.
So naturally, there are satisfied people and disappointed ones... in every area. We can share personal opinions, but mine are definitely not "absolute truths"!!
This year, in 2025, we’ll be heading back in October with Melting Pot for a personal project.
Best regards.
(I have no stake in Melting Pot Safari, and I’ve never met Tony Crocetta or Simon Chebon.)
Hi,
We recently went on our third SAFARI with MELTINGPOT.
We visited three sites: TSAVO WEST, AMBOSELI, and MASAI MARA.
We only have one comment that Tony CROCETTA should take into account: the food and its portions at the canvas camp by the MARA.
As for the dishes, the quality is excellent, but the portions are really small.
The lack is even more noticeable with desserts. For example: just one small slice of pineapple, one small slice of papaya, etc.
It’s really too cheap...
Otherwise, everything else is great, and we never went off-road in the reserves. The only place we did was outside the AMBOSELI reserve to see CRAIG...
The staff is amazing—super kind and attentive.
Just saying...
This year, 2025, we’ll be heading back in October with Melting Pot, for a personal project.
Greetings.
(I have no affiliation with Melting Pot Safari, and I’ve never met Tony Crocetta, nor Simon Chebon.)
Hi there,
I wrote the above a year ago. And our Kenyan stay/safari took place in October with a purely personal project.
When we arrived, we had a big surprise—our driver-guide turned out to be Simon CHEBON himself, stepping in last-minute for an unavailable employee. Plus, the tour was supposed to be in English, but it ended up being in French. 🙂
Then, in the second part, while we were in Buffalo Springs, we were joined by Tony CROCETTA himself. He was scouting another reserve nearby.
- And he spent an afternoon with us.
And the "cherry on top"—we also had the chance, on the same occasion, to see "Titus" again, a very pleasant, passionate, and experienced birding guide who works for M.P.S. at the M.P.S. lodge on Lake Baringo. For us, it was a huge pleasure to see him again.
So, I can’t say we don’t know... Simon or Tony! ?? 🙂 😎
Remarkable travel journal from this SAFARI with MPS—we know them well after traveling with them three times (2020, 2023, and April–May 2025).
Your stunning photographs, paired with such delicately descriptive prose... BRAVO...
Just one note: you mention guides Simon, Tony, and Titus, yet there’s NOT A SINGLE PHOTO of them...
Maybe you could add their portraits to your summary?
Attached are photos of RUTO, EDWARD, BENJAMIN, WILSON, the BARINGO manager, and ALBERT.
Sorry, but portraits of people aren’t my thing at all!
I don’t do them. Sometimes a wide shot where people are unidentifiable, like breakfasts around the vehicle—that’s it for me.
Even if someone asks me specifically... no portraits!!
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Hi everyone,
We’re revising our travel plans for January 2027. Originally, we were considering Uganda for about 14/15 days, but given the current health situation and the restrictions that might affect my partner, who’s American, we’ve decided to switch to Tanzania instead.
I’m used to traveling in South Africa and organizing my trips myself, but I get the impression that planning a safari in Tanzania is quite different.
I know self-drive isn’t really an option in Tanzania. So my main question is: can you organize your own itinerary and book lodges directly, then hire a local driver-guide? Or is it better to go through a local agency that handles the entire safari?
For the itinerary, which parks would you recommend for a first-time visit in January? Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara, Ruaha, Arusha, Selous…
We’d also like to include Zanzibar to end the trip with a few days at the beach. Over 14/15 days, does that sound realistic or too ambitious?
Finally, for flights, is it better to arrive at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam (DAR) based on the itinerary we’re considering?
Thanks in advance for your feedback, especially on the best way to organize the safari and which parks to prioritize in January!
In Nov./Dec. 2022, I went on a safari in the region and we suffered from the extreme temperatures caused by the "El Niño" phenomenon in the Indian Ocean at that time. On top of the extreme heat, there can be torrential rains, flooding, etc., which have led to disasters with casualties.
We're now just 5 weeks away from our trip to South Africa 🙂 and *so* excited to explore (just a tiny bit of) this amazing country.
I need to buy some binoculars but have no idea which model to choose. I don’t really know what to look for (and I don’t want to spend too much).
Thanks in advance to anyone who can give me some tips!
Hello everyone!
It's been a year since I've been longing for South Africa. Our first trip in August 2025 amazed us, and—rarely—it was a unanimous hit with our little family! We were touched to the core, and from the moment we got home, we couldn’t stop talking about going back. 😄
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave me advice on the itinerary for that first trip (Johannesburg loop: Blyde, Kruger, Eswatini, St. Lucia, Durban, Drakensberg)! Thanks to you, our trip went like a dream!
Since then, I haven’t stopped reading articles and discussions on VoyageForum to keep my head in South Africa a little longer!
So, we finally caved and just booked our tickets for January 2027 (from the 3rd to the 26th), with a plan to do a road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg in about 3 weeks.
I’ve got a rough itinerary that seems great based on what I’ve read on various forums, but there are still some uncertain points, and that’s where I could use your advice.
3/01: Arrival in Johannesburg at 11:45 PM
4/01: Flight to Cape Town, pick up rental car. Afternoon sightseeing
5,6,7/01: Cape Town to visit the big classics in the area (any tips for finding accommodation: which neighborhood, a specific place?)
8/01: Overnight stop before Oudtshoorn—but where??? (Is it essential, or is the CT-Oudtshoorn drive manageable? If so, I’d gain a day in Oudtshoorn. Google Maps shows over 5 hours of driving...)
9,10/01: Oudtshoorn (or would 3 nights be better to really enjoy the area?)
11,12/01: Knysna, Plettenberg Bay (to have time for hiking—if you’ve got hiking tips, I’m all ears!)
13,14/01: Tsitsikamma (still to have time for hiking—who knows the must-do hikes in the area? But maybe 4 nights in the Knysna-Tsitsikamma area is too much—I’m not sure)
16,17/01: Addo Elephant (I’m torn between 3 nights at Addo or 3 nights at Mountain Zebra. Based on travel journals, especially Michel’s on MZ, I’ve scheduled 3 nights at MZ 😄...)
18,19,20/01: Mountain Zebra NP
21/01: Camdeboo NP (because it looks so beautiful!)
22/01: Overnight stop (where?) before wrapping up the trip with either 2 or 3 nights at Golden Gate NP or the Lesotho option, which appeals to me, but I don’t know if it’s doable in 3 days to be back in Johannesburg by the afternoon of the 26th.
That’s my trip idea for now...
I’m eagerly waiting for your advice, ideas, and comments...
Can’t wait to be back there again!
We just got back from ten days in Tanzania. We were lucky enough to be guided by Gishaman. Always in a great mood, a good driver, and an excellent guide. Thanks to him, we not only saw the Big Five in one day but also loads of other animals. He works for the local agency Blit Safaris, which provided excellent support throughout our trip. Highly recommended!
I’m planning a potential trip to Namibia for a classic circuit in April 2027.
I’m surprised by how expensive the accommodations inside the parks are—really steep! Is it possible to stay outside the parks but still close enough to enjoy the game drives?
Do you have any recommendations for more reasonably priced lodging? I’m okay with spending 200 to 250 € per night.
No camping—the friend I’m traveling with absolutely refuses 😉, but maybe upgraded tents would work.
Hi, I'm looking for information on the road conditions in Moremi. We're leaving in 15 days, and from what I've heard, the roads are pretty tough to drive on. Any advice?
Thanks
Dream of standing on the roof of Africa at 5,895 m?
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September is a great time to attempt the Kilimanjaro ascent.
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Don’t hesitate to share this post with your hiking friends! 😊
Mafate Randos
My trip to South Africa is getting closer (still 2 months to go 😏), and I’m diving back into my itinerary: from Saturday to the following Sunday around Cape Town, then from Sunday to the following Saturday in Kruger.
For Cape Town, the plan was to avoid changing accommodation every day (we’ll do enough of that in the second part) but still see different landscapes.
I know, I’m missing out on a lot, but you’ve got to make choices, and after all this time, I know what I like—and especially what I don’t (or like less) 😉
Here’s the breakdown:
Arrival Saturday at 11 AM: heading to Hermanus (2 nights). The idea is to stroll along the cliff path in the afternoon, and possibly drive to the Klein River Lagoon. Sunday: Stony Point, then depending on time and weather, a hike in Kogelberg Nature Reserve or Fernkloof Nature Reserve (which seems less scenic but has shorter walks).
Monday: drive to Franschhoek (1 night). If everything lines up, a hike in Jonkershoek NR and a visit to a wine estate.
Tuesday: drive to Mountceder Lodge in the Cederberg (2 nights). I’m thinking of visiting the Stadsaal Caves and the elephant paintings, and maybe one of the hikes listed on the lodge’s site or Maltese Cross.
Thursday: heading to Hout Bay for 3 nights. In no particular order: a classic day trip around the peninsula, half a day at Kirstenbosch Gardens, and half a day at Lion’s Head.
Sunday: flight to Johannesburg.
My questions are mostly about (short) hikes:
Has anyone here done hikes in Kogelberg, Fernkloof, or Jonkershoek?
At Mountceder Lodge (Michel, if you’re reading this… 😉), has anyone tried the hikes (guided or not) offered by the lodge?
There’s still half a day to fill when we’re in Hout Bay—any ideas (not necessarily hikes)?
Lastly, regarding safety: the French foreign ministry (always alarmist, but still) recommends hiking in groups. Is it really risky in broad daylight? (I’m not sure a group of two women counts as a "group"…)
Thanks in advance for your answers, ideas, and comments!
Question: we’re doing a 3-week trip in Namibia, including 5 days for Victoria Falls.
I’ve booked one night in Brandberg, and then I have some questions.
I was thinking of spending 2 nights in Palmwag, then heading to Etosha for one night in Okaukuejo and then 2 nights in Halali.
Alternatively, from Brandberg, I could book a night near Galton Gate and then enter Etosha.
I’m not really sure about the distances, especially with a 4x4.
Same for the return trip: Halali to Windhoek seems long. Maybe it’d be smart to break it up on the way back? (We have 2 days to get back if needed.) If so, where?
Jambo! I organized my trip through this kind of group, so I thought I’d share my experience here. We traveled as a group of four, including two kids aged 9 and 11. After requesting around twenty quotes, I decided to book the safari portion with MAKING MEMORIES IN AFRICA. Ally responded quickly and listened to all my requests—unlike other agencies—such as having a French-speaking guide, the order of park visits (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, then Ngorongoro), and a mix of budget hotels and camping to keep costs down. There were still four agencies in the running, and price was the deciding factor. Even though they were the cheapest, I felt better taken care of than with others. For example, all meals were prepared by a Maasai chef, Louis, who accompanied us throughout the trip, while some others ate meals out of cardboard boxes. Samuel, our guide, explained so many things and answered all our questions. José drove us safely the whole way. Everything was done with great cheer!
At the end of the stay, Ally came to meet us and gave us t-shirts with the agency’s logo—we loved that they took the time to hear our feedback in person. In short, I highly recommend them +++, especially since it’s a local agency that also supports a charity for women and children.
For Zanzibar, I organized everything myself. I hesitated for a long time but eventually booked all four nights at the same place. We don’t like crowds, so I initially considered Jambiani but ended up choosing EVERGREEN BUNGALOWS in Bwejuu. We took their first airport-to-hotel transfer since we arrived at night, and it felt safer. Great value for money, in our opinion. Just be aware that it’s quite isolated—perfect for relaxing and going on excursions. There were very few beach vendors, unlike what I’d read about Zanzibar. We lived with our feet in the sand from morning to night, with a small basin of water outside our room to rinse off. Such a lovely spot!
I had asked for some excursion prices before leaving but ended up booking on-site. Not at our hotel, but at a nearby restaurant that was cheaper. After some thought, since we were based in Bwejuu, I wanted to do Blue Lagoon and Pungume (both departing from the south of Zanzibar).
Blue Lagoon: About 3 hours total, with snorkeling on a small reef full of fish (coral wasn’t great) and a stop at a spot with tons of starfish, plus local snacks, fruit, and drinks.
Pungume: An amazing day with a 50% chance of seeing dolphins (we missed them), a visit to the mangroves, then snorkeling at a spot with some nice coral and, of course, fish. We ended with a fantastic grill (tuna, shrimp, squid, lobster, and fries) on a sandbank in the shade.
Finally, before heading to Stone Town, we visited Paje Cave, which is much less known than Maalum. It’s smaller, but we saw bats, went for a swim, and fed the chickens and rabbits (great for the kids). To finish, we explored Stone Town on our own and had dinner at Forodhani Market.
For flights, we flew with Turkish Airlines from Barcelona to Kilimanjaro and back from Zanzibar—no issues there. However, I don’t recommend the Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar leg with Precision Air. Our luggage didn’t arrive, and according to the hotel, this happens often. We only got it back a day and a half later.
March or May 2027.
Around 15 days in the Western Cape,
then 15 days in the southern KNP.
Arrival either in PE or George.
The pros know I’m somewhat familiar with the area... that I don’t camp... that my accommodations can be simple and remote, self-catering but with basic comforts... that I’m looking for spots that are a bit off the beaten path... in a relaxed mode...
From George:
Late arrival... need some rest... Herolds Bay from George to the N1.
Tsitsikamma is catching my eye (Storms River)... with or without a stop in Knysna.
Question:
What’s the current condition of the pass from Knysna to Uniondale? R339.
And while I’m at it, the condition of the R340.
Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and my questions still apply if arriving in PE.
Is the Swartberg still closed?
Any recommendations for accommodation in Prince Albert?
If I cross the escarpment, I’ll continue via Anysberg NR, Touwsrivier... any thoughts?
From there... Tankwa Karoo or Mount Cedar (or both).
Then heading back down to the coast... the highlands of Hermanus or Kogelberg NR (any opinions on the latter?).
Or,
A more classic route along the coast...
If I arrive (fairly late) in PE... any ideas for accommodation in that little area?
Given that Nyathi Camp is winking at me...
(For context... a while back, I stayed at Riverbend (same Addo sector, private concession)... and I visited the ruins of that abandoned lodge at the time, which has clearly been renovated since... located in a very quiet part of Addo...).
Any feedback from the pros?
Well, that’s about it...
I’m open to any other tips or advice!
I’m reaching out with a question about which park to choose for a 3-day safari in Kenya.
After 20 days in Uganda, I’m meeting up with my dad for a 3-day safari (that works for him). We’ll be meeting in Nairobi and have a full day to travel to a park (preferably the farthest from Nairobi to avoid crowds?) and spend 4 nights there before heading back to the capital for our flight to France.
I’d love to hear your recommendations since I’ve read so many great tips on this forum.
At the end of July, we’re heading to Namibia with a group of five for a three-week road trip and visit to the national parks.
We’ve read conflicting info about buying entry tickets—either online (where?) or at the gate when we arrive?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the agencies you used to plan your trip to Uganda.
There’s the whole issue of gorilla permits, which need to be booked in advance and involve a significant financial commitment. That’s where I’m at with my trip planning. Between checking lutb.go.ug/ and reading online reviews, it’s hard to move forward with confidence.
I contacted the French Embassy, but they don’t provide any recommendations. I almost booked with an agency that had a really bad review from February specifically about the permit process.
How did you go about choosing your agency? Given the large sum involved, I’m this close to booking through a travel agency in France for this part.
From what I understand, no matter which agency books the permit, you’re ultimately guided by professionals trained for gorilla trekking based on the permit itself? I’m assuming that’s how it works.
Thanks for your feedback, and I’m really happy to see the forum’s new energy—it’s been super helpful to me in the past.
We’re heading to Uganda next summer for three weeks with our two kids, who’ll be 7 and 9 years old.
We’ve been to Southern Africa before but not East Africa, and after a trip to South Africa two years ago, the kids wanted to return to Africa, while we wanted to explore a new region while staying independent... Uganda’s been catching our eye for a while, and with Rwandair offering relatively attractive prices, we’re going for it!
We’ll be traveling in a 4x4 (self-drive) with roof tents. I don’t have any 4x4 driving experience, so it’ll be a first for me, but we’ll manage 😉 No great apes for us—kids need to be 15, and we don’t want to do that experience without them.
I don’t usually ask the forum much for trip planning, but this time, I’d love your thoughts and advice!
First question: Karamoja or not? At first glance, if we want to add it to a "classic" loop in the southwest, it doesn’t seem realistic—too packed, too much driving. We could consider doing the full loop via Kidepo and then heading down to Murchison, but I’m worried the trip might feel less varied and less kid-friendly. That said, the region looks stunning, and I’m struggling to accept not going at all... What do you think?
If we skip Karamoja, we’d do a loop: Murchison/Fort Portal/QENP/Bunyonyi/Mburo, which seems pretty comprehensive and would let us take our time, which is nice. A few random questions:
- How much time should we plan for the Fort Portal area? I was thinking at least 3 days to visit Bigodi Swamp, walk around the craters, and maybe do a community walk (any thoughts on that?).
- Between Murchison Falls and the Fort Portal area, is it worth breaking up the drive? I spotted Lake Albert Safari Lodge on the shores of Lake Albert—it’s not too expensive and looks nice.
- I’d love to do some easy walks/hikes at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, ideally without a guide, but it doesn’t seem straightforward. Do you know if it’s possible to do nice walks independently? I’ve read about hikes in the hills near Kilembe but nothing very specific. Maybe staying somewhere at the foot of the mountains, like Ruboni Community Camp, would allow that.
- Lake Mutanda looks really cool, and so does Lake Bunyonyi... Ideally, I’d like to see both, but won’t that feel repetitive? Is Lake Mutanda worth the detour?
Last practical question, since we don’t have experience with this: for the car with kids, would you recommend two tents (a bit more space) or a four-person tent?
I’ll stop here—already a lot of questions...
Thanks in advance for your feedback, and looking forward to exchanging ideas!
Gabriel
We’re planning our second trip to South Africa in July 2026. In 2023, we did a loop from Joburg, Golden Gate, Drakensberg, Hluhluwe, St Lucia, Eswatini, Kruger, Blyde River Canyon, and back to Joburg.
This time, we’d like to go to Cape Town and do a road trip to Port Elizabeth, then fly back to Joburg to return to Kruger. At this stage of my planning, here’s what it could look like:
D1 to D4: Cape Town and Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, Boulders, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive). I’ve spotted a few places to stay between Camps Bay and Hout Bay (3 nights).
D5 and D6: Either Karoo NP or Hermanus and De Hoop. Any opinions to tip the scales? I’ll admit I’m already leaning toward Karoo (the "wild" vibe of the landscapes and wildlife encounters appeal to me much more than the seaside, which feels less exotic). If we go for Karoo, where should we stay? Inside the park or in Beaufort West? I’ve seen good reviews for Ko-ka Tsara Bush Camp, but maybe it’s better to stay in the Sanparks cottages to make the most of the park? (2 nights)
Option B is to do Stellenbosch (though vineyards aren’t great in winter) and/or the Whale Route—Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, De Hoop (2 nights near Gansbaai).
D7 and D8: Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Staying at De Cango Guest Farm (2 nights).
D9 and D10: Knysna, Robberg Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma (2 nights in Plettenberg Bay and 1 night in PE).
D11: Flight from Port Elizabeth to Joburg at 7 AM and drive to Marloth Park.
For Kruger, I’ve booked 2 nights in Marloth Park, 1 night in Skukuza, 2 nights in Satara, and 1 night in Talamati, which we loved. I’ll book the last night in Graskop later since we want to revisit the Blyde Canyon area.
I’d love all the feedback you can give on my itinerary, especially for days 5 and 6.
If you have recommendations for accommodations for 4 people, I’d appreciate those too.
Thanks! 🙂
We’re a family of four (two daughters aged 18 and 21) and we’re planning a three-week trip to Tanzania. Zanzibar would be our main base, but we’d also like to do a safari on the mainland.
Could you share any tips on:
- the ideal length for such a safari, the best place to go during this period (and easily accessible by flight from Zanzibar)
- your recommendations for the most suitable type of stay for a family like ours
- reliable local agencies with reasonable prices that could help us with this plan
Hi everyone, I’m here to get some advice on visiting KRUGER Park.
From what I’ve gathered through my reading, I understand there are two ways to visit the park:
- Independently with your own vehicle
=> Do you drive all day?
- By booking with a professional
=> Safari early in the morning and late in the afternoon. But what do you do in between?
When it comes to accommodations, the options are:
- Booking in one of the park’s camps, where the lodging is basic but functional
- Booking in a private reserve, which is more comfortable but prohibitively expensive
- Booking outside the park, which means entering the park every morning. But if you want to stay for 3 days, that doesn’t seem practical to me.
Do you have any advice for accommodations?
To be honest, I’m really struggling to understand how it all works...
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Bidule 27
Hey everyone!
Heading to Namibia in a few days and I just read that the entry fees for all parks in Namibia have skyrocketed. Increases between 86 and 100%, and this has been in effect since April 1st (no joke). Have any of you heard about this, and if so, do you know if it’s actually being enforced?
For example, the fee for Etosha has gone from 150 NAD to 280 NAD per day per person.
Thanks in advance!
I’m really interested in traveling to South Africa in September 2020. My question is whether I should go on an organized tour or plan my own itinerary. Organized trips are pretty expensive $$$$, but the security aspect reassures me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on safety in South Africa and whether it’s easy to arrange activities like visiting vineyards, Cape Town, and going on a safari on our own. Which is better in terms of cost—booking an organized trip or doing it ourselves? It’s definitely less exciting to follow a group for 10 days. We’re a couple in our 50s who love nature.
😊🦁
We’re heading out in April 2027 with our 4x4 to explore part of Southern Africa. Right now we’re researching all these beautiful countries and deciding where to ship our vehicle. We’re from Le Havre—has anyone here already shipped from that port to South Africa or East Africa?
As for all these countries, is wild camping allowed, tolerated, easy, or difficult?
We’ve already visited a few, but you can read just about anything online, so getting tips from real independent travelers is way better :)
We’re all ears for any hacks, experiences, or spots you’d recommend.
See you on the road with Doddy
Hi,
I’m starting to plan a great trip for the last three weeks of January 2027 (my first time in South Africa).
After spending a few hours (!) browsing this forum, here’s a rough first draft of my itinerary:
D0 Arrival at JNB
D1, D2 Blyde River Canyon
D3, D4, D5, D6, D7: Kruger
D8, D9, D10: St Lucia and surrounding area
D11, D12, D13, D14: Drakensberg + Lesotho
D15 A very long driving day to the south (hope the AC doesn’t break down!)
D16, D17, D18, D19 southwest coast (so far I’ve noted Oudtshoorn, Robberg Nature Reserve, Wilderness NP, De Hoop Reserve, and a bit of the wine route)
D20, D21 Cape Town (peninsula and a bit of the city) + domestic flight and return flight (departure from JNB at 11 PM)
A few questions before refining this:
- Do you see any major issues with this itinerary?
- We don’t have a choice on dates, and personally, I prefer green landscapes to desert ones anyway, but do you really see far fewer animals in January than in the dry season? Five days in Kruger should give us enough time to spot plenty of different animals despite the tall grass, right? As for the heat, we’re from Réunion, so we’re relatively used to it, even though I know it’s not the same type of heat.
- Can I trust the distances and driving times given by Google Maps?
- Picking up the vehicle in Johannesburg and dropping it off in Cape Town: how much might that cost us? I’m thinking it probably won’t be worse (in terms of time or money, since there are five of us—2 adults + 3 kids) than going back to Joburg after Lesotho, taking a flight to Cape Town, and renting another vehicle... but maybe I’m wrong.
- Finally, wouldn’t it be better to focus on just one of the two regions (either the northeast or Cape Town and the south coast)? If it were up to me, I’d stick to the first part and extend a few stops... but not everyone agrees! And we’re thinking that since it’ll be really hot, a second part of the trip that’s a bit """cooler""" would be welcome.
Here’s my feedback after a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, months of prep exchanges (over eight months!), and phone calls right up to departure day, the guide didn’t honor the commitments we’d agreed on.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com—who we’d organized everything with—didn’t meet us as promised when we arrived in Addis Ababa. Without any warning, he sent a different guide to accompany us for the entire trip (with a flimsy excuse).
Several parts of the signed quote weren’t respected:
– Services included in the quote but not provided on-site (meals, water),
– Hotels we’d chosen, booked, and paid for were swapped for lower-category places,
– Visits were canceled because the timing wasn’t calculated properly,
– One stop on the itinerary was dropped without any reason or explanation.
We’d paid a deposit for domestic flights, with a promise to refund any overpayment. A month after returning, 150 € per person (there were three of us) still hasn’t been refunded.
I’m sharing this to warn fellow travelers about the importance of solid guarantees to ensure contracts are actually honored. Double-check everything before committing!
Wishing everyone safe and smooth travel prep—Ethiopia is an incredible country!
---
Hello,
Feedback following a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, numerous preparatory exchanges over eight months, and phone calls right up until the day of departure, the guide did not fulfill his commitments.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com with whom we had organized everything, did not meet us as agreed upon our arrival in Addis Ababa; without warning us, he sent another guide in his place to accompany us throughout the trip (with a bogus excuse).
Several points in the signed quote were not honored:
– services included in the quote but not provided on site (meals, water),
– hotels chosen, booked, and paid for, replaced by lower-category establishments,
– visits canceled due to lack of time, which had not been calculated correctly,
– one stop on the itinerary canceled without reason or explanation.
A deposit had been paid for the booking of domestic flights, with a commitment to refund the overpayment.
To date, one month after our return, 150 € per person (there were three of us) has still not been refunded.
This testimony is intended to alert travelers to the importance of solid guarantees for contracts that are actually honored, so that everyone can be extra vigilant before committing.
Good luck with your travel preparations, everyone.
Ethiopia is an extraordinary country!
Hello,
With so many agencies out there, we're feeling a bit lost. Could you please share your experience—like recommending your agency if you were happy with them—and tell us why, and if possible, what budget we should expect? Feel free to send it in a private message :)
We’re just the two of us, and ideally, we’d like to go in a 4x4 alone or with another couple, or in a very small group.
Hi there,
I’ve reached out to a few agencies for a week-long family safari next summer before heading to Zanzibar.
So far, the itinerary looks like this:
Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire
Day 3: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu
Day 4: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro
Day 5: Drive to Serengeti and safari in Seronera
Day 6: Serengeti and overnight near Lobo
Day 7: Serengeti and overnight in Seronera
Day 8: Flight from Seronera to Zanzibar
On paper, it covers "everything," but maybe there’s a bit too much time lost on the road... Any alternatives?
To simplify (and cut costs), I was thinking:
Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha
Day 2: Arusha National Park with a walking safari and meeting the Maasai (?)
Day 3: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire
Day 4: Full day in Tarangire
Day 5: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu
Day 6: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro
Day 7: Morning in Manyara or Natron and drive to JRO
Day 8: Flight to Zanzibar
Your thoughts and recommendations are welcome...
Thanks
We have the opportunity to spend about ten days somewhere for Christmas, and I’m really tempted by Zanzibar. I’ve been dreaming for a long time about the Spice Island, Stone Town, diving...
Which hotels could you recommend? Not a big "resort"—we’re more into "boutique hotels" or even an Airbnb house. Somewhere quiet (we’re not party animals).
I’m thinking of staying the first few nights in Stone Town and then moving to a beach, preferably one where we can swim regardless of the tides, without ending up in seaweed and mud at low tide.
I’m a bit lost with all the beaches because apparently, the north is very crowded, the south is very windy, and the east has some good and some not-so-good spots, with big tides or not... HELP! 🤪
I’d like to limit myself to a maximum of 2 different places to stay over the 10 days.
